FIC - Force of Nature (7/?)
Title: Force of Nature (7/?)
Author: Wheelie47
Rating: R - NC17 for the whole story
Pairing: Luke and OC, Luke and Noah.
Word count: 2,806
Disclaimer: Don’t own characters, am not associated in any way with ATWT, Van and Jake. No offence intended.
Summary: Noah is a Professor at the California Institute of Seismic Research and Luke is a freelance investigative reporter...
Luke couldn’t help it… just couldn’t resist tracing his fingers over Noah’s perfect skin as he watched him sleep; fingertips exploring the prominent curve of his cheek bone, down over the strong stubbled jaw line, down over the jutting adams apple, along his shoulder and down the muscled arm, pausing to swirl his fingertips over the sensitive skin in the crook of his elbow.
He smiled and chuckled lightly to himself as Noah half grunted, half smiled in his sleep and turned slightly, leaning into the touch.
‘Morning’ Luke murmured softly as he watched Noah’s eyelids flicker open. God he looked so adorable as the early morning sun that dappled through the curtains highlighted the brief confusion in Noah’s face as it took him a moment to realise where he was and what had woken him. How could anyone have broken Noah’s heart? He looked so vulnerable…so open… when he slept… just like a child.
‘Hey’ Noah replied, his voice rough with sleep as stretched languidly, humming slightly with contentment at the lingering sensation of the fullness of Luke.
‘How long have you been awake… watching me sleep?’ Noah asked softly, a slow almost embarrassed smile spreading over his lips.
‘Not long’ Luke breathed out in a soft sigh as he leaned in to press a kiss to Noah’s lips, erasing the embarrassment.
He settled back against the pillows, content just to be in this moment. He wished that they could stay here, just like this… safely cocooned in the comfort and warmth of this room and each other… and forget all the troubles outside the door… Jon, Foster, the earthquake.
But the rays of sunshine also brought a new day and Luke could almost feel the house beginning to wake up around him; his Dad was probably already down in the stables.
Luke reached out and gently caressed Noah’s cheek with a sigh. ‘You should probably go back to your room’ he said with regret.
Noah’s heart sank as he saw the look on Luke’s face and thought that he was wishing that he could turn back the clock and forget last night had happened. ‘Luke?’ he asked in confusion, fearing the worst. This couldn’t happen to him… not again… he’d given himself completely to Luke and he didn’t think that his heart could take the rejection again.
‘No Noah!’ Luke soothed immediately when he heard the uncertainty in Noah’s voice. ‘Please… please don’t think that I regret last night… that I regret this…’ he paused to trace his palm over Noah’s broad chest. ‘…I don’t. It’s just that I’m thinking about Mikey. He’s been through so much and I don’t want to upset him even more. And seeing us together… like this… will just confuse him. He doesn’t need that right now’ Luke murmured as he looked with sadness into Noah’s eyes.
‘I get that Luke… I really do. But what about what you need?’ Noah asked, cupping Luke’s cheek gently.
Luke smiled softly, his breath catching in his throat at the depth of concern this man had for him and his son. ‘I know… I know. Give us time Noah…me and Mikey… we just need time’
‘Ok… I understand’ Noah replied with a small sigh and a half smile, trying to sound supportive, as he leant forward to press a gentle kiss to Luke’s lips.
Luke watched as Noah slid out from under the covers and dressed quickly, already missing the warmth and comfort of Noah’s body next to his.
Noah turned as he reached the door, his hand resting on the knob, and saw Luke looking at him with such an intense but unreadable expression. The sight of Luke lying there, with the covers low on his hips, in the bed that they had made love in, the bed that they had slept together in… arms and legs entangled, had Noah biting down on his bottom lip to stop the words ‘I love you Luke’ from coming blurting out.
He knew that he’d only known Luke for a really short time but he simply couldn’t deny the way he felt but he also knew that it would probably freak Luke out if he told him that right now.
‘I’ll give you all the time you need Luke’ he breathed out instead, with a soft, heartfelt smile before turning away and opening the door.
Luke watched the door close behind Noah before slamming his head back against the pillow in frustration and regret. Why couldn’t he have met Noah years ago?...
…
Luke stood on the far side of the farm’s backyard, lost in thought, as he pushed Mikey back and forth on the tree swing. His son’s giggles and laughter reminded him of the time when he was a kid here. Being here at the farm always reminded him of Grandma Emma and he offered up a silent prayer that she would understand about him and Noah and about what had happened last night, under what he still kind of thought of as her roof. ‘He’s a really nice guy, Grandma… so kind. You would’ve liked him’.
Noah! Just the thought of him brought confused emotions to the surface… he knew that last night had been the culmination of what had been building between them almost since they first met and Noah had been such a considerate lover… trying to erase the memories of Jon… and it had been beyond perfect and what had Luke done this morning… he’d sent Noah away like some one night stand that he was embarrassed about. Noah had been nothing but honest and kind to him and Mikey, not to mention helping Luke rescue his son without a moment’s hesitation. What must Noah be thinking now? Why would Noah even want someone with such emotional baggage like him?
Luke was so lost in his thoughts that he never heard the crunch of tyres on gravel behind him, nor did he hear the car door open and the driver get out; making their way over to them.
It wasn’t until he heard Mikey call out ‘Dad!’ excitedly and struggle to get down from the swing that he turned to see Jon, standing mere feet away.
Jon reached down to pick Mikey up. ‘Hey little guy. Do you miss me?’ Luke was surprised to hear the sincerity in Jon’s voice and he was shocked to see just how tired and unkempt Jon looked… like he hadn’t slept in days.
‘What are you doing here Jon?’ Luke managed to find his voice.
‘What? Can’t I see my husband and kid when I want?’ Jon asked as he eased Mikey down. ‘Go play inside Mikey. I need to talk to Daddy’ he said, turning to Mikey and giving him a gentle push in the direction of the house.
‘Play cars with me?’ Mikey asked, looking up at Jon with wide, hopeful eyes.
‘Maybe… later’ Jon said, before turning back to look at Luke as Mikey headed into the house.
‘You want to see us?!’ Luke asked with barely contained anger at the way Jon thought he had the right to just turn up here and at the way he had just dismissed their son. ‘Don’t you think you gave up that right when you started screwing some other guy?!’
Jon took a step closer. ‘I’m sorry Luke. I… I never meant for this to happen. I miss you guys. Please come back’ he pleaded.
‘How… how can I trust you Jon? How… when you left me and Mikey in the middle of an earthquake because you were too busy in a hotel bedroom to even see the news coverage or have your phone switched on!’ Luke was shouting now and he knew it but he couldn’t stop.
‘I’m so sorry Luke. Please… I… I mean it. I’ve finished with him… I promise. The house is so empty without you and Mikey. I need you’ Jon almost begged as he stepped nearer again and reached out to grip Luke’s shoulder.
Lies… more lies! Luke shook his head wildly in disbelief. He took a huge step back and felt the panic rising in him as the rough bark of the tree dug into his back and Jon’s fingers gripped firmly onto his shoulder…
…
Noah sat on the couch in the family room, staring blankly at the folder lying open on his knees. He was trying to concentrate, going over the figures one more time but all he could think about was Luke.
The memory of last night was so strong that he could almost still feel Luke touching him. He wanted so much to have that feeling again… to have everything with Luke. But it was Luke’s choice and however it hurt Noah, he wasn’t going to force Luke. He would wait for him for as long as it took.
He was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by the sounds of Mikey excitedly chatting away to Lilly in the kitchen. ‘Dad?!’ Noah thought. Did Mikey just say ‘Dad’. Jon! Jon was here!
Noah hastily closed the folder, throwing it onto the coffee table, before dashing through the kitchen to see Holden standing in the porch, watching the conversation between his son and Jon intently through the window.
After carefully closing the kitchen door behind him, he stepped over to stand next to Holden just in time to see Luke being backed up against the tree and Jon reaching out to grab his shoulder.
Noah’s feet had started to move towards the screen door before he even realised it. He felt Holden’s fingers curl around his shoulder, pulling him gently back. ‘Let them be Noah… we can’t interfere… they have to work this out for themselves’ he said sadly, with an edge of regret; his son was a man now and he couldn’t fight his battles for him, even though every muscle in his body was screaming at him to storm out there and put himself between Luke and Jon.
Noah turned to face Holden, the concern for Luke clear across his features. He had seen first hand what those bruising fingers had done to Luke’s skin. There was no way he was going to stand idly by and let it happen again.
‘I can’t’ his voice cracked with emotion as he shrugged himself free of Holden’s grip and swung the screen door open…
…
Jon turned his head at the squeak of the door swinging on it’s hinges, his face changing immediately and with frightening ease from a pleading… almost begging look to one of utter disdain and building anger at the sight of Noah.
‘You! I bet you couldn’t wait to get here and tell Luke what you’d seen, could you?!’ he said with a bitter sneer. He knew instantly that Noah had told Luke everything he’d seen at the house and now Luke knew he was lying… knew that he hadn’t finished with Simon at all and that he’d been at the house.
‘He didn’t tell me anything Jon. All I had to do was take a look at his face. He didn’t have to lie to me’ the last words exploded from Luke’s lips as he placed both hands on Jon’s chest and pushed him away.
Noah ignored Jon completely and stepped closer to Luke, placing a steadying, comforting hand on the small of his back. ‘Are you ok?’ he asked, the concern clear in his voice.
Jon was incensed as he watched the tender, almost intimate touch. ‘You and him. I knew it!’ he yelled as he swung to face Noah fully, fingers clenching into fists… his face a frightening mask of burning jealousy. ‘Tell me… have you fucked him yet? What’s it like to have my sloppy seconds?’ he demanded, his eyes flicking between Luke and Noah.
Suddenly Noah was moving almost subconsciously… all the anger at Jon’s words and at his treatment of Luke boiling up inside him, urging his fist to connect with Jon’s jaw with a satisfying crunch. He stood, chest heaving… trying to control his temper, as he watched Jon hit the ground.
In an instant Holden was through the screen door and across the yard, placing himself between Noah and Jon, as he lay sprawled on the ground.
‘Easy… Noah…easy’ he said as he placed a restraining hand on Noah’s arm, eyes darting between the three of them, trying to understand exactly what was happening here.
Luke seemed to snap out of the shock that had kept him rooted to the spot and he took a step closer to Jon. ‘Is…is that how you really think of me?’ he said, his voice wavering as he desperately willed himself not to cry… he didn’t want to give Jon the satisfaction. ‘Did you even ever love me at all Jon? Me or Mikey? Or did you just want another possession to control… just like your company or your car? And…and do you know what the worst thing is?’ he paused, swallowing hard to keep his composure. ‘The worst thing is… is that I let you do it. What does that say about me?’ he asked, hurt and shame making him look away.
‘I think you better leave… now!’ the warning was clear in Holden’s voice as he watched Jon struggle to his feet and wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.
‘NOW!’ he repeated, more firmly as Jon seemed to be on the verge of lurching towards Noah.
Jon eyed all three of them with contempt before appearing to think better of his intended action and dusted himself off before stumbling to his car, speeding off in a cloud of dust and gravel. This was a fight for another day.
Only when the car had disappeared from view did Holden release Noah and watch closely as he immediately went to Luke and embraced him.
Right then and there… Noah didn’t care what Holden thought, all he knew was that Luke needed to be held and he needed to hold Luke. No words he could think of saying seemed to be the right ones, so instead he just held Luke; his heart breaking as he felt Luke trembling in his embrace.
They seemed to stand there like that for an eternity and Luke felt like he was gathering strength from just being held by Noah. With a deep steadying breath he decided that he couldn’t let Jon get to him like this, that he needed to take control of his life again… for his own and for Mikey’s sake… and he was going to start right now by going back to LA with Noah to confront Foster and stop Minegen…
…
‘Mikey… now you be a good boy for Grandma and Grandpa ok?’ Luke asked as he knelt in front of his son on the tiled kitchen floor. As much as he hated being apart from Mikey… there was no way that he was going to take him back to LA just yet; he was much safer here.
He felt his resolve wavering as his son looked at him with wide eyes that were filling with tears. ‘Hey’ he said gently, rubbing a soothing palm up and down Mikey’s arm. ‘You know how much you like staying here. Grandpa might let you help on the farm… I’m sure Grandma will cook you pancakes for breakfast in the morning and Ethan will be back later’ Luke added, knowing how much Mikey loved playing with his young uncle. ‘And I’ll be back before you know it’
‘Bedtime?’ Mikey asked hopefully.
‘No baby… not in time for bed but as soon as I can… I promise. I love you’ he tried to sound upbeat as he pressed a kiss to Mikey’s forehead before pulling him into a hug.
‘Don’t worry sweetheart’ Lilly said after Luke had stood as she picked Mikey up. ‘We’ll take good care of him. We’re going to have a great time, aren’t we Mikey?’ she asked sweetly as she brushed her fingers through her grandson’s hair.
Luke smiled gratefully and, after one more kiss and heartfelt goodbyes, he turned and followed Noah out the door.
As they drove away from the farm, Luke sat staring straight ahead through the windshield, knowing that if he looked back he wouldn’t want to leave.
Sensing Luke’s distress, Noah wordlessly reached across the seat and grasped Luke’s hand, where it rested on his thigh, squeezing it reassuringly as they made their way towards the airport…
Chapter 8
Link back to fic master post
Author: Wheelie47
Rating: R - NC17 for the whole story
Pairing: Luke and OC, Luke and Noah.
Word count: 2,806
Disclaimer: Don’t own characters, am not associated in any way with ATWT, Van and Jake. No offence intended.
Summary: Noah is a Professor at the California Institute of Seismic Research and Luke is a freelance investigative reporter...
Luke couldn’t help it… just couldn’t resist tracing his fingers over Noah’s perfect skin as he watched him sleep; fingertips exploring the prominent curve of his cheek bone, down over the strong stubbled jaw line, down over the jutting adams apple, along his shoulder and down the muscled arm, pausing to swirl his fingertips over the sensitive skin in the crook of his elbow.
He smiled and chuckled lightly to himself as Noah half grunted, half smiled in his sleep and turned slightly, leaning into the touch.
‘Morning’ Luke murmured softly as he watched Noah’s eyelids flicker open. God he looked so adorable as the early morning sun that dappled through the curtains highlighted the brief confusion in Noah’s face as it took him a moment to realise where he was and what had woken him. How could anyone have broken Noah’s heart? He looked so vulnerable…so open… when he slept… just like a child.
‘Hey’ Noah replied, his voice rough with sleep as stretched languidly, humming slightly with contentment at the lingering sensation of the fullness of Luke.
‘How long have you been awake… watching me sleep?’ Noah asked softly, a slow almost embarrassed smile spreading over his lips.
‘Not long’ Luke breathed out in a soft sigh as he leaned in to press a kiss to Noah’s lips, erasing the embarrassment.
He settled back against the pillows, content just to be in this moment. He wished that they could stay here, just like this… safely cocooned in the comfort and warmth of this room and each other… and forget all the troubles outside the door… Jon, Foster, the earthquake.
But the rays of sunshine also brought a new day and Luke could almost feel the house beginning to wake up around him; his Dad was probably already down in the stables.
Luke reached out and gently caressed Noah’s cheek with a sigh. ‘You should probably go back to your room’ he said with regret.
Noah’s heart sank as he saw the look on Luke’s face and thought that he was wishing that he could turn back the clock and forget last night had happened. ‘Luke?’ he asked in confusion, fearing the worst. This couldn’t happen to him… not again… he’d given himself completely to Luke and he didn’t think that his heart could take the rejection again.
‘No Noah!’ Luke soothed immediately when he heard the uncertainty in Noah’s voice. ‘Please… please don’t think that I regret last night… that I regret this…’ he paused to trace his palm over Noah’s broad chest. ‘…I don’t. It’s just that I’m thinking about Mikey. He’s been through so much and I don’t want to upset him even more. And seeing us together… like this… will just confuse him. He doesn’t need that right now’ Luke murmured as he looked with sadness into Noah’s eyes.
‘I get that Luke… I really do. But what about what you need?’ Noah asked, cupping Luke’s cheek gently.
Luke smiled softly, his breath catching in his throat at the depth of concern this man had for him and his son. ‘I know… I know. Give us time Noah…me and Mikey… we just need time’
‘Ok… I understand’ Noah replied with a small sigh and a half smile, trying to sound supportive, as he leant forward to press a gentle kiss to Luke’s lips.
Luke watched as Noah slid out from under the covers and dressed quickly, already missing the warmth and comfort of Noah’s body next to his.
Noah turned as he reached the door, his hand resting on the knob, and saw Luke looking at him with such an intense but unreadable expression. The sight of Luke lying there, with the covers low on his hips, in the bed that they had made love in, the bed that they had slept together in… arms and legs entangled, had Noah biting down on his bottom lip to stop the words ‘I love you Luke’ from coming blurting out.
He knew that he’d only known Luke for a really short time but he simply couldn’t deny the way he felt but he also knew that it would probably freak Luke out if he told him that right now.
‘I’ll give you all the time you need Luke’ he breathed out instead, with a soft, heartfelt smile before turning away and opening the door.
Luke watched the door close behind Noah before slamming his head back against the pillow in frustration and regret. Why couldn’t he have met Noah years ago?...
…
Luke stood on the far side of the farm’s backyard, lost in thought, as he pushed Mikey back and forth on the tree swing. His son’s giggles and laughter reminded him of the time when he was a kid here. Being here at the farm always reminded him of Grandma Emma and he offered up a silent prayer that she would understand about him and Noah and about what had happened last night, under what he still kind of thought of as her roof. ‘He’s a really nice guy, Grandma… so kind. You would’ve liked him’.
Noah! Just the thought of him brought confused emotions to the surface… he knew that last night had been the culmination of what had been building between them almost since they first met and Noah had been such a considerate lover… trying to erase the memories of Jon… and it had been beyond perfect and what had Luke done this morning… he’d sent Noah away like some one night stand that he was embarrassed about. Noah had been nothing but honest and kind to him and Mikey, not to mention helping Luke rescue his son without a moment’s hesitation. What must Noah be thinking now? Why would Noah even want someone with such emotional baggage like him?
Luke was so lost in his thoughts that he never heard the crunch of tyres on gravel behind him, nor did he hear the car door open and the driver get out; making their way over to them.
It wasn’t until he heard Mikey call out ‘Dad!’ excitedly and struggle to get down from the swing that he turned to see Jon, standing mere feet away.
Jon reached down to pick Mikey up. ‘Hey little guy. Do you miss me?’ Luke was surprised to hear the sincerity in Jon’s voice and he was shocked to see just how tired and unkempt Jon looked… like he hadn’t slept in days.
‘What are you doing here Jon?’ Luke managed to find his voice.
‘What? Can’t I see my husband and kid when I want?’ Jon asked as he eased Mikey down. ‘Go play inside Mikey. I need to talk to Daddy’ he said, turning to Mikey and giving him a gentle push in the direction of the house.
‘Play cars with me?’ Mikey asked, looking up at Jon with wide, hopeful eyes.
‘Maybe… later’ Jon said, before turning back to look at Luke as Mikey headed into the house.
‘You want to see us?!’ Luke asked with barely contained anger at the way Jon thought he had the right to just turn up here and at the way he had just dismissed their son. ‘Don’t you think you gave up that right when you started screwing some other guy?!’
Jon took a step closer. ‘I’m sorry Luke. I… I never meant for this to happen. I miss you guys. Please come back’ he pleaded.
‘How… how can I trust you Jon? How… when you left me and Mikey in the middle of an earthquake because you were too busy in a hotel bedroom to even see the news coverage or have your phone switched on!’ Luke was shouting now and he knew it but he couldn’t stop.
‘I’m so sorry Luke. Please… I… I mean it. I’ve finished with him… I promise. The house is so empty without you and Mikey. I need you’ Jon almost begged as he stepped nearer again and reached out to grip Luke’s shoulder.
Lies… more lies! Luke shook his head wildly in disbelief. He took a huge step back and felt the panic rising in him as the rough bark of the tree dug into his back and Jon’s fingers gripped firmly onto his shoulder…
…
Noah sat on the couch in the family room, staring blankly at the folder lying open on his knees. He was trying to concentrate, going over the figures one more time but all he could think about was Luke.
The memory of last night was so strong that he could almost still feel Luke touching him. He wanted so much to have that feeling again… to have everything with Luke. But it was Luke’s choice and however it hurt Noah, he wasn’t going to force Luke. He would wait for him for as long as it took.
He was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by the sounds of Mikey excitedly chatting away to Lilly in the kitchen. ‘Dad?!’ Noah thought. Did Mikey just say ‘Dad’. Jon! Jon was here!
Noah hastily closed the folder, throwing it onto the coffee table, before dashing through the kitchen to see Holden standing in the porch, watching the conversation between his son and Jon intently through the window.
After carefully closing the kitchen door behind him, he stepped over to stand next to Holden just in time to see Luke being backed up against the tree and Jon reaching out to grab his shoulder.
Noah’s feet had started to move towards the screen door before he even realised it. He felt Holden’s fingers curl around his shoulder, pulling him gently back. ‘Let them be Noah… we can’t interfere… they have to work this out for themselves’ he said sadly, with an edge of regret; his son was a man now and he couldn’t fight his battles for him, even though every muscle in his body was screaming at him to storm out there and put himself between Luke and Jon.
Noah turned to face Holden, the concern for Luke clear across his features. He had seen first hand what those bruising fingers had done to Luke’s skin. There was no way he was going to stand idly by and let it happen again.
‘I can’t’ his voice cracked with emotion as he shrugged himself free of Holden’s grip and swung the screen door open…
…
Jon turned his head at the squeak of the door swinging on it’s hinges, his face changing immediately and with frightening ease from a pleading… almost begging look to one of utter disdain and building anger at the sight of Noah.
‘You! I bet you couldn’t wait to get here and tell Luke what you’d seen, could you?!’ he said with a bitter sneer. He knew instantly that Noah had told Luke everything he’d seen at the house and now Luke knew he was lying… knew that he hadn’t finished with Simon at all and that he’d been at the house.
‘He didn’t tell me anything Jon. All I had to do was take a look at his face. He didn’t have to lie to me’ the last words exploded from Luke’s lips as he placed both hands on Jon’s chest and pushed him away.
Noah ignored Jon completely and stepped closer to Luke, placing a steadying, comforting hand on the small of his back. ‘Are you ok?’ he asked, the concern clear in his voice.
Jon was incensed as he watched the tender, almost intimate touch. ‘You and him. I knew it!’ he yelled as he swung to face Noah fully, fingers clenching into fists… his face a frightening mask of burning jealousy. ‘Tell me… have you fucked him yet? What’s it like to have my sloppy seconds?’ he demanded, his eyes flicking between Luke and Noah.
Suddenly Noah was moving almost subconsciously… all the anger at Jon’s words and at his treatment of Luke boiling up inside him, urging his fist to connect with Jon’s jaw with a satisfying crunch. He stood, chest heaving… trying to control his temper, as he watched Jon hit the ground.
In an instant Holden was through the screen door and across the yard, placing himself between Noah and Jon, as he lay sprawled on the ground.
‘Easy… Noah…easy’ he said as he placed a restraining hand on Noah’s arm, eyes darting between the three of them, trying to understand exactly what was happening here.
Luke seemed to snap out of the shock that had kept him rooted to the spot and he took a step closer to Jon. ‘Is…is that how you really think of me?’ he said, his voice wavering as he desperately willed himself not to cry… he didn’t want to give Jon the satisfaction. ‘Did you even ever love me at all Jon? Me or Mikey? Or did you just want another possession to control… just like your company or your car? And…and do you know what the worst thing is?’ he paused, swallowing hard to keep his composure. ‘The worst thing is… is that I let you do it. What does that say about me?’ he asked, hurt and shame making him look away.
‘I think you better leave… now!’ the warning was clear in Holden’s voice as he watched Jon struggle to his feet and wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.
‘NOW!’ he repeated, more firmly as Jon seemed to be on the verge of lurching towards Noah.
Jon eyed all three of them with contempt before appearing to think better of his intended action and dusted himself off before stumbling to his car, speeding off in a cloud of dust and gravel. This was a fight for another day.
Only when the car had disappeared from view did Holden release Noah and watch closely as he immediately went to Luke and embraced him.
Right then and there… Noah didn’t care what Holden thought, all he knew was that Luke needed to be held and he needed to hold Luke. No words he could think of saying seemed to be the right ones, so instead he just held Luke; his heart breaking as he felt Luke trembling in his embrace.
They seemed to stand there like that for an eternity and Luke felt like he was gathering strength from just being held by Noah. With a deep steadying breath he decided that he couldn’t let Jon get to him like this, that he needed to take control of his life again… for his own and for Mikey’s sake… and he was going to start right now by going back to LA with Noah to confront Foster and stop Minegen…
…
‘Mikey… now you be a good boy for Grandma and Grandpa ok?’ Luke asked as he knelt in front of his son on the tiled kitchen floor. As much as he hated being apart from Mikey… there was no way that he was going to take him back to LA just yet; he was much safer here.
He felt his resolve wavering as his son looked at him with wide eyes that were filling with tears. ‘Hey’ he said gently, rubbing a soothing palm up and down Mikey’s arm. ‘You know how much you like staying here. Grandpa might let you help on the farm… I’m sure Grandma will cook you pancakes for breakfast in the morning and Ethan will be back later’ Luke added, knowing how much Mikey loved playing with his young uncle. ‘And I’ll be back before you know it’
‘Bedtime?’ Mikey asked hopefully.
‘No baby… not in time for bed but as soon as I can… I promise. I love you’ he tried to sound upbeat as he pressed a kiss to Mikey’s forehead before pulling him into a hug.
‘Don’t worry sweetheart’ Lilly said after Luke had stood as she picked Mikey up. ‘We’ll take good care of him. We’re going to have a great time, aren’t we Mikey?’ she asked sweetly as she brushed her fingers through her grandson’s hair.
Luke smiled gratefully and, after one more kiss and heartfelt goodbyes, he turned and followed Noah out the door.
As they drove away from the farm, Luke sat staring straight ahead through the windshield, knowing that if he looked back he wouldn’t want to leave.
Sensing Luke’s distress, Noah wordlessly reached across the seat and grasped Luke’s hand, where it rested on his thigh, squeezing it reassuringly as they made their way towards the airport…
Chapter 8
Link back to fic master post